Toyota unveils 'self-parking' car

The redesigned Prius, which was introduced to the Japanese market this week, uses a monitor screen to scan the parking location and help guide the car into position, said chief engineer Masao Inoue.

“As you can see, the car does all the steering, helping you park,” Inoue said at the car’s Tokyo debut.

“This is a very convenient feature for use in kerbside parking or when backing up into the garage.”

Toyota president Fujio Cho said the company hopes to sell 76,000 new Prius worldwide by the end of 2004, tapping a growing appetite for environmentally friendly cars.

The new Prius is also equipped with a hybrid petrol-electric engine that allows the driver to switch power on the roll and achieve fuel efficiency levels of up to 84 miles per gallon.

No date was given for the car’s release in Europe..